A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order today requiring the state to stop arresting Occupy Nashville protesters at Legislative Plaza.

Local attorneys and the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee filed a lawsuit this morning against Gov. Bill Haslam and other state officials and requested a temporary restraining order to prevent any further arrests. U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger granted the request. The state did not object to the restraining order and agreed to work out its differences with protesters.

After tolerating the protest for three weeks, Haslam approved a crackdown on demonstrators last week, citing safety and sanitation concerns at the plaza. The state instituted a new use policy for Legislative Plaza that included a curfew and permit requirements.

Some of the protesters have refused to leave overnight, and state troopers made a total of 50 arrests early Friday and Saturday mornings. Both nights, Davidson County Night Court Magistrate Tom Nelson refused to approve troopers’ warrants and ordered the protesters released.

Photos:

The lead photo from San Francisco includes over 1,000 Ocuppiers with a message.